Today we will give you an insight into how cacti survive for so long in deserts. But before that, we need to understand what is cacti.
What are cacti?
Cactus, cacti, or cactuses is a proud member of the Cactaceae family. The word "cactus" is derived from the Greek word Kaktoc, Kaktos which was first used by Theophrastus to describe unidentified spiny plants. Most cacti are native to America from Patagonia in the south to parts of western Canada in the north. Only Rhipsalis baccifera comes from Sri Lanka and Africa. These are arguably the toughest terrestrial plants.
How these survive in the desert ecosystem?
Cacti are coping up with ruthless desert conditions for so long due to the following adaptations.
Thick and waxy stem:
Cacti are blessed with green and very thick stem to diminish transpirational losses, moreover, they got a waxy layer under the stem which adds to that.
Absence of leaves:
If you ever noticed a cactus plant, you must have observed that they don't have prominent leaves like most other plants. Actually, their leaves are modified into spines which also helps them to reduce the surface area for transpiration. Because they don't have leaves so they carry out their photosynthesis through the green stem.
Extensive and shallow root system:
Just like stem and leaves, cacti have some adaptations in their root system. They have an extensive but shallow root system which helps them to absorb more water from the soil.
0 Comments